"May Allah, of his mercy, show the truth to us," replied Abdullah,
while Yuhanna went off, breathing threats against the perjurer. He
prayed to God that his nephew might not have sworn falsely and so
incurred the punishment of everlasting fire. Yet there was much
treasure lying undiscovered in the land, and it might be that his
nephew had got wind of some of it. He knew not what to think, but
spent most of the night in prayer, prostrate before that tiny picture
of the Mother of God which he had set up to commemorate his radiant
vision.

In the morning came the finishing blow. He stood in the doorway,
watching his chickens pecking amid the wet litter of refuse round the
trunk of the fig-tree, when the sound of a horse's hoof-beats reached
his ears, and presently from a narrow opening in the neighbouring wall
emerged a Frank in black clothes, black, leaf-shaped hat and yellow
riding-boots--the Father of Ice in person. The missionary dismounted,
tied his horse by the head-rope to a loose stone of the wall, and came
forward, stooping to escape the branches of the fig-tree.

"Welcome, sir!" exclaimed Abdullah, smiling and bowing, though his mind
misgave him. "My house a boor one, sir, but at your service."

"Good day to you," replied the missionary coldly, and passed in before
him.

"I have come about this shocking business of your nephew," he observed,
declining to sit down, though Abdullah brought forth cushions. "The
news reached me only yesterday, and I have been this morning to see
that man Elias. His story seems quite clear, in spite of all the
nonsense about buried treasure. The young Englishman doubtless took a
considerable sum of money with him, and Iskender has beguiled him by
the story of the treasure, meaning to rob him, if not worse."

"Oh, sir, it's all a lie, by God!" exclaimed Abdullah; but the Father
of Ice paid no attention to him.

"I grieve to think of that misguided boy. He was like a child of our
own at the Mission, till bad companions led him into evil ways. Of
course, now he must pay the penalty of his transgression. You natives
must be taught once more that the life and property of British subjects
are not to be lightly made away with. I wrote to the consul last
night, directly I had news of this atrocious affair. Iskender, poor
misguided boy, will bear the punishment. But in my opinion, and in the
sight of God, there are others more to blame than he in the matter. I
mean thos